Holy Door Pilgrimage Passport

Holy Door Pilgrimage Passport

More than 240,000 Catholics across the eight counties of the Diocese of Cleveland are being mailed “passports” encouraging them to participate in a pilgrimage to the Holy Doors at two locations and engage in corporal and spiritual works of mercy associated with the Church’s “Year of Mercy.”

If you have not received your pamphlet by June 15, please contact your parish. Pilgrimage materials can also be downloaded via our Pilgrimage web page available HERE.

Pope Francis has declared this a Jubilee Year of Mercy with the opportunity for the faithful to pass through two Holy Doors within the diocese and receive special blessings. The ritual dates back to the 15th century and teaches that those entering the Holy Doors are crossing the threshold from sin to grace, and from darkness to light.

The Holy Doors in the Diocese are located at St. John Cathedral in downtown Cleveland and at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes on Chardon Road in Euclid.

Each household in the diocese has been mailed a Jubilee booklet to track their pilgrimage by getting a stamp at either Holy Door location.

The faithful are also invited to record corporal and spiritual works of mercy in the booklet. Those who engage in works of mercy at Catholic Charities sites can receive “Worker of Mercy” special stickers for their passports. Parishes and other diocesan institutions also will have the stickers for those who engage in works of mercy at home or other locations.

Cleveland Bishop Richard Lennon invites all to participate and to heed the words of Pope Francis who said, “Mercy overcomes every wall, every barrier and leads you to always seek the face of the person. It is mercy which changes the heart and the life.”